Astak Mentor eBook readers with WiFi and Touchscreen (read-only) - Page 13

DaleDe · 05-07-2008, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by delphidb96

What's the point of all those e-ink readers if not to build a "window wall" of readers - each displaying a different ebook. Kind of like those "wall 'o TVs" we always see "powerful" people owning.

Derek

I saw a newly introduced digital frame for displaying pictures. It had the ability to display 3 separate pictures with separate displays simultaneously. May your eBook readers should all be in one container.

Dale

delphidb96 · 05-07-2008, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Luigino

Hello delphidb96,

I am asking that because I've heard about a prototype that Seiko Epson showed-off past autumn, which looks very impressive but actually it's only a prototype...you can see here:

http://techon.nikkeibp.co.jp/english...071115/142508/

I tried to find any e-mail contact at Seiko Epson in Japan to ask more infos but haven't found any e-mail contact... so I'm here with this doubt... ;-)

Ciao!
Luigi

Gotcha. Yeah, Epson's reader certainly *looks* interesting, but until it gets to the market, it's just vaporware. Oh, I'm not saying the display isn't available, just that the device itself may not become available for some time. Amazon took damn near a year and a half before it actually *released* the Kindle. Bookeen took nearly a year. Now, the market has iLiads, Kindles, PRS505s, V3s, Cybook Gen3s - and soon - Astak Mentors. Epson, while it has announced the availability of the new e-ink controller chipset, has not even announced when it's going to release this concept reader. I wouldn't hold my breath waiting.

Derek

Luigino · 05-07-2008, 01:06 PM

In fact, that's why at least actually I'm taking a look on Astak Mentor... which is supposed to be a good product that would surely beat the market with a good on-the-paper quality/cost...
I always say about every brand market to take off it needs to have a real competitive price so people can "consume" it so for sure it pays more attention at the product like I am taking at this moment on Astak Mentor...

Then when Epson's product will get out in the market, with an affordable price related to product specs then I could put him too on my budget... but now while we have no price estimation, no time-in-the-market estimation then, as you said, it's only vaporware. ;-)

ciao
Luigi

P.S.: even for sure a day we'll arrive at the same point as it's in the movie Johnny Mnemonic...all holographic... ;-)

Gester · 05-09-2008, 03:56 PM

Just noticed that some kind soul updated the wiki with Astak's new mentor web pages.

No real new info, but we have some pics of the 5" reader that I haven't seen before. Exciting times.

pilotbob · 05-09-2008, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gester

Just noticed that some kind soul updated the wiki with Astak's new mentor web pages.

No real new info, but we have some pics of the 5" reader that I haven't seen before. Exciting times.

Cool beans... pics of the 5,6 and 9.7inch dev. None of them list mobi pocket or ereader files. The 9inch is going to have 4GB internal... that's nice. It also says touchscreen with stylus... I wonder what you would use the touch screen for. Why also would you need two USB ports?

Also, what would you use WiFi/Bluetooth for... just syncing, or some type of web browsing... if you can browse via a bluetooth cell that would be pretty cool.

NEED MORE INPUT!!!

BOb

Gester · 05-09-2008, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pilotbob

It also says touchscreen with stylus... I wonder what you would use the touch screen for. Why also would you need two USB ports?

Also, what would you use WiFi/Bluetooth for... just syncing, or some type of web browsing... if you can browse via a bluetooth cell that would be pretty cool.

NEED MORE INPUT!!!

BOb

It would be nice if the touchscreen allowed some sort of note-taking ability or general PDA functionality, which would move this device from the Desirable category to Would Give My Left Nut.

Still a bit of a mystery. If the touchscreen version made it as feature-y as, say, my Palm TX, just with a bigger screen...then I'd snap it up in an instant.

If it is just a competent web surfer, then maybe I'd get the 9.7" non-wifi (or even 6" non-touchscreen) version. Either way, I've lusted long enough for an ebook. Unless reviews come back completely negative my first true ebook reader will likely be one of these.

wallcraft · 05-09-2008, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pilotbob

The 9inch is going to have 4GB internal... that's nice.

These are official web pages, but the 4GB may be a typo. The Netronix EB-300 specs list 4Gb (i.e. 512 MB). I made the same mistake when initially adding the EB-300 to the E-book Reader Matrix. Similarly, the 6" Astak may only come with 128MB of NAND type Flash.

pilotbob · 05-09-2008, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wallcraft

These are official web pages, but the 4GB may be a typo. The Netronix EB-300 specs list 4Gb (i.e. 512 MB). I made the same mistake when initially adding the EB-300 to the E-book Reader Matrix. Similarly, the 6" Astak may only come with 128MB of NAND type Flash.

I don't know. The 5inch says 128MB, the 6inch says 1GB... well have to wait and see I guess.

BOb

wallcraft · 05-09-2008, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pilotbob

The 5inch says 128MB, the 6inch says 1GB...

The Netronix ebook page says "1G NAND type Flash" under EB-200 and "128MB NAND type Flash" under EB-210. So I think 128 MB (1 Gbit) is likely on the 6".

Skyrunner · 05-09-2008, 07:18 PM

I can't wait to put my hands on one of these. However...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robertb

The advance projected sales price for the 9.7 inch version is about $299-$349.

It is my duty to inform you, fellow Europeans, that $349 = €225. Even the highest price + taxes would be a bargain.

I don't know about you guys, but I'm smelling €349 ($542) here. I hope time (maybe a week?) will prove me wrong.

Gester · 05-09-2008, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skyrunner

I can't wait to put my hands on one of these. However...

It is my duty to inform you, fellow Europeans, that $349 = €225. Even the highest price + taxes would be a bargain.

I don't know about you guys, but I'm smelling €349 ($542) here. I hope time (maybe a week?) will prove me wrong.

I'm fairly certain that Robertb meant what he said. Astak is based in San Jose, after all.

moz · 05-09-2008, 07:44 PM

Just got an email back from Astak, looks as though the 5" and 6" ones are due July/August because they're making button changes. Full info on their website next week. They're pushing retail sales first rather than direct selling so Bob was apologetic that he couldn't just add me to a pre-sales list. Bah! He also suggested dealing with Netronix since they're the official distributor for Asia/Australia. But since release is months away... I'll wait.

Unless someone can get to the IDPF Show and mug one of them for the sample models

zelda_pinwheel · 05-09-2008, 07:53 PM

thanks for the update !

Flow · 05-10-2008, 04:04 PM

Interesting device indeed. Glad I heard about it. Was going to order an iLiad.
However, Why Windows? Linux beeing free and all, it would help bring the price down. And of course, I really like Linux as an OS. Will there be future versions with Linux available?

And, how good will the annotation feature be compared to the iLiad?

Great to see a company that listens to the community!

Cheers,

Flow

Nate the great · 05-10-2008, 04:57 PM

The 5" Mentor has a Linux OS.

They're probably not going to use Linux on the 6" or 9.7" until they can get GPL problems resolved. The Linux on the two larger devices is provided by the manufacturer, Netronix. We know Netronix is violating the GPL as it pertains to the Bookeen Cybook. Bookeen has said that they can't get the manufacturer of the Cybook to release the source code (as required under GPL).

Astak probably doesn't want to risk the legal liability of selling a device that doesn't comply with GPL.

P.S. I don't know this for a fact, but it makes sense.

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05-07-2008, 01:06 PM	#183
Luigino Groupie Posts: 176 Karma: 1950 Join Date: May 2008 Device: Nothing	In fact, that's why at least actually I'm taking a look on Astak Mentor... which is supposed to be a good product that would surely beat the market with a good on-the-paper quality/cost... I always say about every brand market to take off it needs to have a real competitive price so people can "consume" it so for sure it pays more attention at the product like I am taking at this moment on Astak Mentor... Then when Epson's product will get out in the market, with an affordable price related to product specs then I could put him too on my budget... but now while we have no price estimation, no time-in-the-market estimation then, as you said, it's only vaporware. ;-) ciao Luigi P.S.: even for sure a day we'll arrive at the same point as it's in the movie Johnny Mnemonic...all holographic... ;-)

05-09-2008, 03:56 PM	#184
Gester Enthusiast Posts: 33 Karma: 36 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Pennsyltucky Device: TX :(	Just noticed that some kind soul updated the wiki with Astak's new mentor web pages. No real new info, but we have some pics of the 5" reader that I haven't seen before. Exciting times.

05-09-2008, 07:44 PM	#192
moz Addict Posts: 370 Karma: 1553 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Melbun Device: Kobo H2O	Just got an email back from Astak, looks as though the 5" and 6" ones are due July/August because they're making button changes. Full info on their website next week. They're pushing retail sales first rather than direct selling so Bob was apologetic that he couldn't just add me to a pre-sales list. Bah! He also suggested dealing with Netronix since they're the official distributor for Asia/Australia. But since release is months away... I'll wait. Unless someone can get to the IDPF Show and mug one of them for the sample models

05-09-2008, 07:53 PM	#193
zelda_pinwheel zeldinha zippy zeldissima Posts: 27,827 Karma: 921169 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Paris, France Device: eb1150 & is that a nook in her pocket, or she just happy to see you?	thanks for the update !

05-10-2008, 04:04 PM	#194
Flow Junior Member Posts: 8 Karma: 10 Join Date: May 2008 Device: iRex iLiad	Interesting device indeed. Glad I heard about it. Was going to order an iLiad. However, Why Windows? Linux beeing free and all, it would help bring the price down. And of course, I really like Linux as an OS. Will there be future versions with Linux available? And, how good will the annotation feature be compared to the iLiad? Great to see a company that listens to the community! Cheers, Flow

05-10-2008, 04:57 PM	#195
Nate the great Sir Penguin of Edinburgh Posts: 12,375 Karma: 23555235 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: DC Metro area Device: Shake a stick plus 1	The 5" Mentor has a Linux OS. They're probably not going to use Linux on the 6" or 9.7" until they can get GPL problems resolved. The Linux on the two larger devices is provided by the manufacturer, Netronix. We know Netronix is violating the GPL as it pertains to the Bookeen Cybook. Bookeen has said that they can't get the manufacturer of the Cybook to release the source code (as required under GPL). Astak probably doesn't want to risk the legal liability of selling a device that doesn't comply with GPL. P.S. I don't know this for a fact, but it makes sense.

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